In today’s post, we are considering what happens if you run into your Therapeutic Reflexologist in public, outside of the practice office.
Introduction
As my family and I were in a church service yesterday listening to the pastor, he mentioned something that made my mind consider the same from a practice point of view. The pastor mentioned how strange it is sometimes when interacting outside the normal context. My first thought was how it was for me when I ran into a teacher in a shop or on the beach when I was still in school, then my mind went to how it is when I run into a student that was in one of my classes in the church, or a mall, or on a hiking trail, but then it made me think further about interaction with patients in public when outside the Therapeutic Reflexology practice office, especially from a patient perspective.
Let me firstly begin by mentioning that there is always the discussion of whether a person going for Therapeutic Reflexology is called a patient or a client; at the end of the day, it does not really matter, but for the sake of this post, we’ll talk about the patient.
The Practice Environment
When a patient visits a Therapeutic Reflexologist, it is in a professional, safe-space environment where open, honest and vulnerable conversations often occur. The patient reveals very private and confidential information to the therapist and rightly so, because sometimes there is a specific reason for treatment, especially when referred by a medical professional. The matters discussed and dealt with in the Therapeutic Reflexology practice, is often not matters that the patient want to be made public knowledge.
Within any healthcare setting, that is totally normal, and patients feel safe to share and deal with such matters because they know everything is private and confidential within the boundaries of the practice office. However, what happens when the patient runs into the Therapeutic Reflexologist outside the practice office? The patient might feel very vulnerable and unsure of what to do, what to expect, and how to react.
The Public Environment
Living in the same community might often lead to running into a patient in a public space. From a personal perspective, I can testify to the fact that I have been practicing Therapeutic Reflexology for over 20 years and in the Durbanville/Tygervalley area in Cape Town since 2016, so there is a chance to run into a patient in a public place. Just looking at the past weekend, I ran into a patient and her husband in the pharmacy, but sometimes I come across a patient in the church, or at the school, or the supermarket, or the mall.
Therapeutic Reflexology treatments are often different. Sometimes a stranger makes an appointment for therapy and then sometimes the Therapeutic Reflexologist might see the patient in a public place thereafter. It may be a place we both visited before but because we did not know each other, we were not even aware that we often enter the same public space at the same time. Other times, a friend or a colleague or somebody I already know makes an appointment for therapy and in that instance, we already know each other and may run into each other in public, but often that is a different experience due to having known each other prior to providing therapy.
What every patient should know: My Privacy Promise!
What should be made very clear, is that whatever was said, discussed, observed and treated within the Therapeutic Reflexology practice, remains in the practice. That information does not leave the practice office. That might be on the mind of the patient, especially when something very sensitive has been dealt with and the patient may feel unsure, hesitant, vulnerable or uncomfortable. Here is the promise: Your treatment sessions will not be discussed in public, especially not in front of other people!
The Christo Scheepers Therapeutic Reflexologist Public Encounter Approach
I cannot speak about other Therapeutic Reflexologists and how they deal with such public interactions, but I can tell you how I personally deal with it.
My approach is the following: I ALWAYS let the patient take the lead in a public space!
What do I mean by that? Well, I never want to make any patient uncomfortable in any public space. I always value the fact that a patient trusted me enough to allow me to provide Therapeutic Reflexology treatment, especially since it is a touch therapy and being given the permission to touch another human being, should never be taken lightly; it is a huge privilege, and I always experience it as a very big honour.
When I come across a patient in a public space, thát is not the place where any of the treatment should be discussed, and I also realise that patients do not necessarily want to interact with the Therapeutic Reflexologist outside the practice office.
Therefore, when coming across a patient in public, I react to it in one of the following ways, based on the patient’s lead:
- Seeing a Patient Across the Room
If I recognise you across the room, I may be a normal human being and greet with a smile and probably with a slight wave.
- Walking Past a Patient
If we walk past each other and I recognise you, I may say “hello” in passing.
- Seeing a Patient at a Public Event
If we come across each other in public where there is forced interaction like at a school function or in a restaurant etc., I usually leave it in the hands of the patient on how the interaction will go. If you want to say hi and chat a bit, we can gladly do so in addition to the basic friendly greeting, but the chat will be about everyday things and not about any treatment related matters that occurred in the practice office.
If my family is with me, I’ll gladly introduce them to you and I’ll introduce you to them by name and something like “this is one of my patients” just to provide context, because I interact with many people and sometimes, I introduce a patient, sometimes a student, and sometimes a colleague. More than that, nothing specific will be discussed about treatments; it will be normal generic conversation like when you meet an acquaintance in public. That is always done in public to protect your privacy, but also your comfort and the comfort of the people around.
If your family or friends are with you and you want to chat, I’ll usually let you introduce me or say “hi, I am Christo” but then let you introduce me to them, if you want or feel the need to provide context to them about where you know me from. The conversation will then similarly be generic as in the instance mentioned above.
The past weekend I was in the pharmacy at the counter and did not even notice a patient in the same pharmacy. I just heard somebody say out loud, “Hi Christo” and when looking up, I saw a patient and her husband at another counter. In that instance, the patient reached out to me in public, so I gladly walked over, greeted them and had a conversation with them before we went our separate ways and completed the transactions at the pharmacy.
The other day I walked into a take-away coffee shop, and somebody tapped me on the shoulder. It was a patient that saw me and just wanted to greet because she recognised me. We ended up having a pleasant conversation and catch-up session while waiting for our orders.
This type of thing often happens, especially since I have been in the area for a while.
- Patient Avoiding Contact in Public
Sometimes I may recognise a patient in a public space and want to friendly greet, but it is obvious that the patient is uncomfortable or trying to avoid eye contact or not wanting to have any interaction. In any instance like that, I keep my distance and do not intrude in the patient’s space, so I’ll just move on without any acknowledgement. It is not that I am rude or trying to avoid the patient or not wanting to greet, but it should be the patient’s choice and interaction will never be forced. In instances like this, the patient should feel comfortable with the fact that boundaries will be respected and never be overstepped, so we can co-exist in the same public space without any contact or interaction being pursued from my side, although I am always open and eager for the patient to reach out and interact with me, in which instance, I’ll gladly reciprocate.
For me, it is all about the patient’s comfort. If you do not want to interact in public, that is totally fine, and I’ll always respect your boundaries and no explanation is necessary. If you want to interact in public, please feel free to do so. It is all about what you want, because I never want to ever make a patient feel uncomfortable in a public space.
Even when it comes to the use of digital technology, it works similarly. Sometimes I wonder how a patient is doing and I may just pop them a quick text message, but if the patient does not respond, it is a clear indication that the patient, for whatsoever reason, chooses not to interact, and then contact is discontinued from my side until such time as when the patient feels ready to make contact again from their side. I am always available, but not if not wanted.
As Therapeutic Reflexologist, I fully acknowledge the fact that sometimes you need therapy on an ongoing basis and we keep on building on the therapeutic relationship, but sometimes it is only for a specific period and then discontinued. Sometimes therapy is a once-off session. I never want Therapeutic Reflexology to be the reason that any patient ever feels that public space may not be entered or enjoyed just because I am there. As a result, the patient’s preference in the public space will always be my biggest priority and respected accordingly.
Open Invitation
I have many acquaintances because of wearing many different hats in the workspace and thus often chat with people or meet with people in public or meet up and have a coffee and a conversation.
I, therefore, have an open invitation to any patient: If you want another appointment, please feel free to book an appointment. If you do not want another appointment, but want to discuss anything or have any questions, you have my number and are welcome to reach out; I always value it when patients reach out.
If you ever see me in a public place, please feel free to approach and interact with me; it will always be done with your privacy and best interest at heart!
Conclusion
I always want my presence in a public space to positively impact any patient in the same space, or if the patient chooses no interaction, at least neutral impact, but I never want my presence to ever negatively impact any patient. If any patient ever feels that my presence negatively impacts them in a specific public space, please feel free to reach out and we can see how best to navigate the situation going forward.
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
DTR (Cum Laude), PhD
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 0737453
Tel. 072-800 7243